Boys soccer roundup: Seabreeze, Pine Ridge earn state berths

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 9:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 12:31 a.m.

ORMOND BEACH — Second-seeded Seabreeze rallied in the second half to snap a 2-2 tie and beat third-seeded Winter Springs 4-2 on Thursday night in the semifinals at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.

The Sandcrabs earned a berth in the state playoffs and will host Pine Ridge at 7 p.m. Friday for the district title.

Jacob Putting, Justin Merkel, Jacob Espittia and Jordan Bowling scored for the Sandcrabs. Jordan Collins had an assist and Jack Thompson was in goal.

“We pretty much controlled the whole game,” Seabreeze coach Nik Efremoski said. “We actually went down 1-0, then went up 2-1 and they tied it with 10 seconds left in the half. The second half was pretty much all us.”

ORLANDO — Fourth-seeded Pine Ridge shut out top-seeded Orlando Evans 2-0 on Thursday in the semifinals to earn a berth in the state tournament.

The Panthers (20-5), which beat Evans (14-3-4) for the second time this season, will face second-seeded Seabreeze at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex for the district title.

Sean Curtis and Cole Chokanis scored for the Panthers, with Joel O'Sullivan adding an assist.

DISTRICT 4-3A

Creekside 2, Matanzas 0

ST JOHNS — Sixth-seeded Matanzas fell one win short of qualifying for the state playoffs after dropping a 2-0 decision to second-seeded St. Johns Creekside on Thursday in the semifinals, according to the website jacksonville.com.

<p><b>DISTRICT 5-4A</b></p><p><b>Seabreeze 4, Winter Springs 2</b></p><p><b>ORMOND BEACH —</b> Second-seeded Seabreeze rallied in the second half to snap a 2-2 tie and beat third-seeded Winter Springs 4-2 on Thursday night in the semifinals at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.<ep></p><p>The Sandcrabs earned a berth in the state playoffs and will host Pine Ridge at 7 p.m. Friday for the district title.<ep></p><p>Jacob Putting, Justin Merkel, Jacob Espittia and Jordan Bowling scored for the Sandcrabs. Jordan Collins had an assist and Jack Thompson was in goal.<ep></p><p>“We pretty much controlled the whole game,” Seabreeze coach Nik Efremoski said. “We actually went down 1-0, then went up 2-1 and they tied it with 10 seconds left in the half. The second half was pretty much all us.”<ep></p><p><b Pine Ridge 2, Evans 0</b></p><p><b>ORLANDO —</b> Fourth-seeded Pine Ridge shut out top-seeded Orlando Evans 2-0 on Thursday in the semifinals to earn a berth in the state tournament.<ep></p><p>The Panthers (20-5), which beat Evans (14-3-4) for the second time this season, will face second-seeded Seabreeze at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex for the district title.<ep></p><p>Sean Curtis and Cole Chokanis scored for the Panthers, with Joel O'Sullivan adding an assist. <ep></p><p><b>DISTRICT 4-3A</b></p><p><b>Creekside 2, Matanzas 0</b></p><p><b>ST JOHNS —</b> Sixth-seeded Matanzas fell one win short of qualifying for the state playoffs after dropping a 2-0 decision to second-seeded St. Johns Creekside on Thursday in the semifinals, according to the website jacksonville.com.<ep></p>